Page 59 of Little Child Gone

“Poor Eli Robertson. It’s going on a month or more, isn’t it?”

“Not my case. I’m working on something else.”

“Good luck.” Stephanie’s cold voice almost make Nikki laugh. She’d finally gotten under the woman’s skin.

“Thanks.” Nikki walked toward the door. “Actually, I do have one more question. Did you have any idea about the amendment for Ms. Smith?”

Stephanie’s jaw set. “No. No one did.” She gestured to the door. “See yourself out, Agent Hunt.”

Nikki smiled and turned to leave. “By the way, Stephanie, I assure you that I’m not intimidated by power and wealth,” she said without turning around. “I will find out who killed those people.” She shut the door before Stephanie could respond.

The meeting had gone as Nikki had expected given the woman’s reputation, but she still couldn’t believe the sheer callousness. She started the Jeep with the key fob as she shoved the door open. Her eyes stung in the cold wind. Thankfully she’d been able to park in front of the building, but the Jeep was still chilly inside. She tossed her bag into the passenger seat, digging for her phone.

Stephanie’s fingers had trembled while they talked about Atwood. And she’d slipped up and admitted she’d had recent contact with him. That meant she’d be giving Atwood a heads-up, but Nikki didn’t mind taking that risk. She would break Atwood when the right time came.

She played Miller’s message through the speakers. “Culver’s CCTV came in. Taylor Hall was there that day. He and Adrian got into an argument. Can you meet me at the high school?”

NINETEEN

Miller had already informed the principal as well as Adrian Lynch by the time Nikki arrived. Holly led her to the office. “Mrs. Farber is here as his guardian. She’s his aunt. I didn’t know that.”

“It makes sense.”

“They’re in the big meeting room just down from the principal’s office.”

Principal Carlson and Sheriff Miller sat on one side of the table, with a sour-faced Mrs. Farber and Adrian sitting across from her.

Mrs. Farber looked like she smelled something bad when Nikki entered. Adrian Lynch smirked at her. Miller must not have shown the tape yet. She looked at the sheriff.

“I haven’t shown the video yet,” he told her. “I thought I’d wait for you.”

She sat down next to him, directly across from Adrian. “I can’t wait.”

Miller unlocked his tablet, the video from Culver’s cued. They watched in silence as Adrian Lynch emerged from Culver’s to stop Taylor Hall from coming inside. The boys stood nose to nose, insulting each other. Adrian shoved his index finger in Taylor’s chest, the same smirk on his face. Taylor turned and walked away, out of frame. It looked as though Adrian might go after him, but someone inside grabbed his arm and led him back into the restaurant.

“You told me you hadn’t seen Taylor,” Nikki reminded a now white-faced Adrian. “But this video tells a different story. It also makes me wonder if you didn’t follow him.”

“I didn’t, I swear.”

“Don’t act like a criminal.” Mrs. Farber patted his arm and glared at Nikki. “Just because he didn’t tell you about an altercation doesn’t mean he’s involved. I won’t have you railroading my nephew.”

Nikki had had her fill of arrogant women today. “We’re trying to find a missing kid that you’ve had in class. Do you have any empathy?”

The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room. Mrs. Farber didn’t respond.

“Let’s all take a breath,” the principal cut in. “Adrian, explain yourself.”

“He doesn’t have to?—”

“Yes, he does.” The principal leveled an icy stare at the teacher. “I allowed you to sit in because you’re family. Holly and I can act as guardian, and this is all being recorded. Please let Adrian do the talking.”

Nikki ignored the glowering teacher, her eyes locked with Adrian’s. No longer the cocky popular kid, his face had gone pale, fear in his eyes. “Look, Adrian. We know when you came back to campus. You didn’t have time to follow him. You had practice after school. So unless you ran into him again, I don’t think you’re a suspect. But I do think you know more than what you’ve said.” She paused for a beat. “What did Taylor say? Did you see where he went?”

“I’m not in trouble?” he asked.

“Not if you tell me the truth now,” she promised.

Adrian took a deep breath. “He didn’t say much. I called him names, tried get him to swing. He wasn’t interested.”

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